Leland F. Campbell

March 12, 2012

Leland F. Campbell
1925-2012

Members of the Bishop Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post No. 8988, family and friends are mourning the loss of three-war veteran Leland F. Campbell, 87.
Campbell, who was known to many in Bishop as the “Sierra Street Waver,” served in the U.S. Navy in World War II, Korea and Vietnam before starting his own bakery in Nevada City, Nev. Later, he returned to college and worked as an auto mechanic.
Leland joined the Navy at 19 in 1943 and was assured he would be sent to cooking school, but instead spend the remainder of the second World War driving landing craft in the Pacific Theater.
When he came to Bishop 80 years ago, he eventually met Lloyd Young and the two discovered they had both served in the Pacific Theater in 1944.
After the war, Leland finally got to cooking school and became a submariner, serving on nuclear subs during Vietnam.
Leland recently joined the Slim Princess Chapter of E. Clampus Vitus, but was unable to attend the initiation. As such, 15 officers and members went to his home and recreated the entire ceremony in his honor.
Campbell began waving to people driving by his home on Sierra Street shortly after moving there, especially enjoying the children going to school. On occasion, one student or another would stop to bring him coffee, hot chocolate or a donut.
Moving to the intersection of U.S. 395 and Sierra Street because the honking in recognition of Leland’s waving was bothering neighbors, Leland was honored as “Citizen of the Quarter” by the Bishop City Council in April 2011.
Born July 24, 1925, Leland died Feb. 19, 2012 at Boulder City V.A. Hospital in Nevada.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Daisy; and son, Jack.
He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Maggie Campbell of Bishop and Las Vegas; stepson and daughter-in-law, Mike and Mary O’Leary of Bishop; and brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Jean Campbell of Fresno.
Bishop VFW Post No. 8988 will host a celebration of life from 2-5 p.m. Saturday, March 17. All are welcome to attend.